The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-04-29
JESS.
RyH.RIDER HAcGARD.
Fuh'T'I'Nes Solorsovsnuees ShEEls

Fa&'T''N1s selersoessuees Sh&Els
BY this time he was right across tho mount
ain top and on the brink Of the most remark
able chas,n he had ever seen. The place was
known as Lions Kloof, or Leuw Kloof in
Dutch, because three lions had once been
penned up by party of Beers and shot there
The chasm or gorge was between a quarter
and half mile long, about 600 feet In width
and $50 to 1870 feet deep About 100 PAGES
from the near end Of the gorge, some ninety
or more feet In height, stood the most remark
able of these mighty pillars, to which the re-
mains at Stonehenge are but toys. 1t was
formed Of seven huge powders, the largest,
that at the bottom, about the size OF a moder-
ate cottage, and the smallest that ut the top,
perhaps some eight or ten feet In diameter.
These powders were rounded like cricket
ball-evidently through the action..of water
and yet the hand of nature had contrived to
balance them, each one smaller than that be-
meath, the one upon the other, and to keep
them SO. But this was not always the case.
For instance, a very similar mass that had
risen Oh the near side of the perfect pillar had
fallen, all except the two bottom stones,
and the powders that went to form it lay
scattered about like monstrous petrifed can.
non balls. One of these had split in two, and
seated on it John discovered none other than
jess Croft, apparently engaged in sketching,
looking very small ana far or at the bottom
of that vast chasm.
John got Off his shooting pony, and looking
about him perceived that it was possible to
descend by following the course of the stream
and clambering down the natural steps it had
cut in the rocky bed. Throwing the reins
over the pony's head, and leaving him with
the dog Pontiac to stand and look about him
as South African shooting poI.ies are &C.
cI,stomed to do. he put down his gun and
game and proceeded to descend. As he drew
near the bottom of the gorge be saw that near
the borders of the stream, wherever the soil
was moist, grew thousands upon thousands of
white arum lilies, "pig lilies" they call them
there just now in full bloom. He had noticed
these lilies from above, but there they had,
owing to the distance, looked SO small that he
had taken them for everlastings or anemones
He could not see jess now, for she was hidden
by bush that grows by the banks of the
streams in South Africa in low lying land,
and which at certain seasons of the year is |
literally covered with masses of the most |
gorgeous scarlet bloom. His footsteps fell |
very softly on the moss and flowers, and when |
he got round the glorious looking bush it was |
evident that she had not heard him, for she |
was asleep Her hat was off, but the bush |
shaded her, and her head had fallen forward |
over her sketching block and rested on her
hand. A ray of light that came through the
bush played upon her curling brown hair and
threw warm shadows on her white face and
the white wrist and hand on which it rested,
John stood opposite to her and looked at
her, and the old curiosity to understand this
feminine enigma took possession of him.
Many man before him has been the victim
Of like desire, and lived to regret that he
lid not leave it ungratified. 1t is not well to
Try to lift the curtain of the unseen; it is not
we'll to call to heaven to show its glory, or to
aell to give us touch and knowledge of its
yawning fires. knowledge comes soon
enough; many of us will say that
has come too soon, and left
us desolate. There is no bitterness like
the bitterness of wisdom; SO cried the
great Koholeth, and so hath cried many q
son of man following blindly in his path Let
us be thankful for the dark places Of tho
earthquakes where we may find rest and
shadow, and the heavy sweetness of the night.
Seek not after mysteries, o son Of man;
be content with the practical and the proved
md the broad light of the day; peep not, NUT
er not the words of awakening. Understand
Ter who would be understood and is compre-
,ensible to those who run, and for the others
ct them be, lest your fate should
De as the fate of Eve, and as the
'ate of Lucifer, star of the morning. For
1ere and there is human heart from which
t is not wise to draw the veil-a heart in
which many things slumber us undreamed
lreams in the brain of the sleeper. Draw
lot the vcil whisper not the word of life in
he silence where all things sleep, lest in that
xindling breath of love and pain dim shapes
arise, take form, and fright thee
A minute or SO might have been passed
when suddenly, and with little start, jess
opened her great eyes, on which the shadow
# darkness lay, and gazed at him.
"Oh!" she said, with little tremor, lis it
you or is it my dream?"
"Don't be afraid" he answered, cheerily,
it is lin the flesh"
She covered her face with her hand for q
moment, and then Withdrew it, and he noticed
hat her eyes had changed curiously in that
They were still large and beautiful
8 they always were but there was change.
ust now they had seemed as though her soul
we're looking through them. Doubtless it
leep.
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